MANILA - Typhoon ''Lawin'' further weakened Thursday afternoon as it moves further away from the Philippines towards the Chinese mainland, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 5 p.m. briefing, PAGASA meteorologist Aldczar Aurelio said Lawin was only packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph), and gusts of 160 kph.

It continues to move northwest at 22 kph.

Tropical cyclone warning signal number 1 remains over the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union.

Aurelio said the weather in northern Luzon is expected to improve by Friday morning. Metro Manila is however expected to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

The typhoon was last spotted 240 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Department of Interior and Local Government Director Edgar Allan Tabell said eight casualties have been reported so far: one from Region 1, three from Region 2, and four from Cordillera.